David Hogg Gets a Book Deal

Just how much fame can one person milk simply for witnessing a tragic event? As if countless television interviews, a nationwide rally, and a highly publicized boycott effort weren’t enough to satisfy the apparently inflated ego of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student David Hogg, he has now scored himself a book deal. The book, titled #NeverAgain, will be published in June by Penguin Random House—one of the biggest publishers in the world.

David Hogg and Lauren Hogg, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and survivors of February’s deadly mass shooting in Parkland, Florida have signed a deal with Random House for a book to be published in June, EW has confirmed.

The siblings have been leaders in the gun control movement that took shape among students, in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting. Their book, #NeverAgain, is described as “a statement of generational purpose, and a moving portrait of the birth of a new movement.” The book will explore their efforts taking on some of the most powerful forces in Washington and beyond, and will detail their commitment to new legislation aiming to prevent future tragedies.

“In times of struggle and tragedy, we can come together in love and compassion for each other,” David Hogg said in a statement. “We can see each other not as political symbols, but as human beings. And then, of course, there will be times when we simply must fight for what is right.”

Hogg’s 15 minutes of fame were clearly running out, and sadly, this book is yet another attempt to keep him in the limelight, and of course, it is also a continuation of the anti-gun left to make gains in their efforts to ban guns by exploiting children who have experienced a tragedy. Though this latest effort probably scored the Hogg kids a decent payday.

#NeverAgain will be available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. The audiobook clocks in at 180 minutes, so, make no mistake about it, this is, without a doubt, a hastily written book, most likely not even written by Hogg or his sister. At the time I was writing this piece, both the ebook and paperback rank fairly high on Amazon.

Penguin Random House describes the book as “a manifesto for the movement begun that day, one that has already changed America–with voices of a new generation that are speaking truth to power, and are determined to succeed where their elders have failed.”

Even NPR conceded that school shootings are not a growing epidemic. Meanwhile, a new requirement for students to use clear backpacks (in the name of safety, I guess) was panned by Hogg as (ironically) a violation of students’ constitutional rights. Hogg’s latest public kerfuffle was with Laura Ingraham, who had mocked him on Twitter, resulting in Hogg calling for a boycott of her Fox News Channel show, The Ingraham Angle. While the boycott caused several advertisers to flee, it ultimately backfired, causing a huge surge in her ratings. Hogg recently tried to regain relevance again by proposing yet another national walkout, this one to occur tomorrow, April 20—the anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. Hogg eventually deleted his tweet promoting the walkout after those connected to the Columbine tragedy requested that the day be reserved for honoring the victims of the Columbine shooting rather than be used for political protest. Hogg’s efforts to perpetuate his fame has resulted in him having egg on his face several times. Perhaps he wasn’t the right person to be chosen to be the “author” of a book meant to be, to borrow a phrase from Penguin Random House, an “essential guide” to the #NeverAgain movement.

While David Hogg continues to cash in on his experience, other Parkland, Fla., students who witnessed the shooting continue to be ignored and even denied the opportunity to speak at events. Kyle Kashuv, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was not invited to speak at the March for our Lives rally because he is a supporter of gun rights. Hunter Pollack, the older brother of Meadow Pollack, who was killed in the shooting, was also denied the opportunity to be heard.

The new book by the Hogg siblings is just further evidence that the pro-gun control witnesses and victims of the shooting are being given every means possible to promote the left’s anti-gun agenda. Apparently, hearing and seeing them on television isn’t enough, but slapping their names on a book cover is the next wave in their publicity campaign.

There is no word on how big of an advance Hogg and his sister received for #NeverAgain. I have contacted Penguin Random House but did not receive an answer prior to submitting this column.